Manchester Symphony Orchestra to perform

By Karen Greer
For the Journal Inquirer
December 15, 2011

MANCHESTER — The Manchester Symphony Orchestra is hosting Christmas in Venice, a holiday concert of Italian masterpieces, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 41 Park St.

Kevin L. Mack will conduct the Manchester Chorale and the Manchester Symphony Orchestra Brass Ensemble in a program of music from the Italian Renaissance and Baroque for single and double choirs.

For centuries, Venice was the crossroads of the world, the link between Europe, the Mediterranean sea routes to the Middle East, and the Silk Road to China.

Its wealth and entrepreneurial spirit inspired magnificent artistic achievements, as well as the innovations that spread their influence far and wide.

As the city became an early center of the music printing business, the works of its leading composers gained renown even more quickly than ever before.

Giovanni Gabrieli, organist at Saint Mark’s Basilica in Venice, published extensive collections of his own works and those of his uncle and predecessor at St. Mark’s, Andrea Gabrieli.

Mack described the relationship between Giovanni Gabrieli’s music and Venice’s most majestic cathedral.

“St. Mark’s remarkable acoustics and numerous balconies provided Gabrieli with the chance to compose works for as many as four choirs with higher or lower pitch ranges, and contrast instrumental with vocal choirs.”

These new techniques created dramatic sonic effects, and led the way towards the more elaborate compositions of the Baroque era, including the works of Antonio Vivaldi.

The concert program includes Vivaldi’s setting of the “Gloria,” his most famous choral work.

Tickets are $18; $15 for seniors and students; and free for those under 18 years of age. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

For more information, call 860-646-0047, e-mail MusicSix [at] cox.net, or visit the MSOC website: www.msoc.org